Boxing amusement device



Nov. 11, 1930.

w. J. VERONDA 1,781,307

BOXI NG AMU S EMENT DEVI C E Filed Nov. 1 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet, 1

Ndv. 11, 1930. w. J. VERONDA BOXING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 14. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Nov. 11, 1930. w. J. VERONDA 1,781,307

BOXING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 11, 1930 a r warren stares rarest orrics WILLIAM J. VEROND'A, OF SAN MARINO, CALIFORNIA BOXING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Application filed November 14, 1927. Serial No. 233,146.

My invention is a boxing amusement de- In the body structure of each of the figures vice especially designed for amusement there is a metallic framework having arms parks, fairs, orthe like, in which two figures connected thereto and each arm is mechaniare" arranged to box with each other. cally operated by an electromagnetic device An object of my invention in a boxing and there are two switches on each ofthe amusement device is the arrangement of two operating wheels to control the blows struck figures simulating boxers and having elecby each of the boxers. y trically controlled mechanism to operate In order to give a knock-out I preferably their arms to punch at each other and with arrange a series of switches, usually placing in manually controlled device so that two one on the chin and twoon each side of each 6 people called players mayeach operate his figure. These are so arranged that after each ownboXer making the boxers approach and switch is driven in by a. blow, it remains in, recede from each other, strike with the right but all the switches are required to be thrust and left hands when desired, and make parin before a knockout can be obtained. This lb tialturns to the right or to the left. is effected by dropping the vertical support- Another object of my invention is an aringshaft which is released by an electrorangement by which if certain designated magnetic controlled latch and forced downblows are delivered by one boxer against the wardly by a spring. Therefore, practically other, such boxer receiving the blows will be at the same time that a blow is delivered 20 knocked out, that is, be knocked complete y which closes the last switch of the series on over. one of the boxers, the si'lpporting shaft is r I on tr tin my device I arrange a platdropped and the figure topples on its base, re form simulating a square boxing ring, with quiring to be picked up and set by a ttwo figures representing boxers mounted on {'@n( '1;1n{',

2 small stands. By means of tracks and car- My invention will be more readil d 7 riages underneath the platform and aslot stood from the following description and in the platform, the boxers may be moved to d i i whi h; a

and from each other by operators or players Fjgrupe 1 i a ti i f th ring, 011 pp Sides of the g- I Prefer to showing' the platform, the two boxers thererange this longitudinal mOVGDIQIlt having on, each n'younted on a tand the slot, in the the carriages connected by a lazy-tong device il'atform and the operating and control with operating shafts so that by pushing and haftg pulling on the shafts the lazy-tongs are con- Figure 2 i a perspective i f one f tracted or extended, and the opposite ends th 1 m 0f Such tongs 118mg Connected to each Fiaure 3 is a horizontal section on the line ridge, the ca-l'i'iilgeg are mmed longitudinally 3-3 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows r J! i on the tracks and thereioie cause the figures Showmg the supportmg canmges and the to nand recede from each other mechanism for operating the same under- In order to cause the figures to turn to the 8 th th )1 tform i h 1 ft the re each mounted o n a ngnt Tmd t e i \i f Figure 4 is a vertical section substantially a vertical shaft extending upwardlv through on tillire of Fi 3 in the direction of each carriage and through the slot in the platt1 form, and each shaft engages in a socket in 1 f t1 f T 1] each of the stands, this socket preferably belgure' 15 an e 0 lame 01 C i qual'e B a train f gears, 1 1 supporting the boxer and the vert1calsect1on shafts are connected to the longitudinal q g q C g shafts, actuating the lazy tongs so that on ro- Flgure 6 1s a section on approximately the tation of such controlshafts, the boxers are line 6-6 of Fig. 5 111 the direction of the arturned in one direction orthe other on the rows tl' rough the framework of the boxer, vertical axis. i A Figure tel s a diagram of the electrical conv 1 slot 14 therein. Each boxer is mounted on a trol for the electro-magnetic devices actuating the arms. I

In the drawings a boxing ring is designated generally by the numeral 11, this preferably being made square except'that the corners 12 are cut off to more readily accommodate the mechanism for operating the boxers. The ring has a platform 13 with a stand 15' which has a conical part 16 terminating in the socket 17. This socket is preferably square for a purpose hereunder set forth.

The figure of the boxer is built up with a framework 18 having legs 19 connected as indicated at 20 tothe platform 15. This frame is covered with a body structure 21 simulating a boxer and having suitable padding or such like, and whose arms are movable in the manner set forth hereunder... 1

.Underneaththe platform there are a pair of tracks 22 which extend from corner to corner of the ring and on these tracks there are mounted two carriages 23, each having wheels 24, thecarriagesbeing made of suitable light.

framework. Vertically positioned in each carriage there is a vertical shaft 25 preferablymountedin a'sleeve 26, this shaft being made round for the major portion, but it is preferably square at the upperend 27 to engage in'the square socket--17 of the stand.

The vertical shaft has a, reduced section 28 for. latching, as hereunder set forthyand in addition a collar 29 to limit the downward movement of the shaft which is under a con stantdownward stress by the spring 30 coiled on the shaft and bearing between a washer 31 and the bottom ofthe carriage (Figs. 5 and 6). V I

The boxersare rotated by means of a horizontal beveled gear 3l'which is keyed 'or splined to thevertical shaft 25 to allow a sliding movement of such shaft. This gear meshes with an idler gear 32 mounted on a cross shaft 33, supported on a suitable frame 34 in the carriage. This latter gear meshes with a gear 35, one of which is splined on each of the operating control shafts 36, which are slidable longitudinally through each of the carriages and out through the associated corner of the ring. Each of these operating shafts has a journal '37 in a bracket 33 secured to the base of the ring, and in a journal flange 39 mounted onthe corner structure 12 of the ring and on each of these shafts there is an operating or control wheel 40 (note particularly Figs; 1, 3 and 4). It will be noted, therefore, that on turning each of the hand wheels 40 the control shafts 36 may be rotatedeither' oneway or the other and motion transmitted to eachof the vertical shafts 35 to rotate these and hence the stands 13- (see Figs. 5 and6). Each of the figures is supported in this elevated position by means of a spring pressed detent 41 which engages in: the reduced section 28 of each of the vertical shafts andholds the figures up. This detent isslidably mounted in a bracket frame 43 and is operated upon by a solenoid 44 also mounted in the carriage. This solenoid is connected to wiring, as hereunder described. i

The mechanism for moving the figures toward and from each-other comprises a pair of lazy-tongs 45,- each set of tongs having one end pivotally connected at 46 to the carriage, and the'other end pivotally connected to a brace 47 attached to the end 12 of the ring. A pair of collars 48 are attachedto each of the operating shafts 36 and the central collar 49 positioned therebetween this collar is connected by a vertical pivotpin- 50 to a pair'of cross links51 of the lazy-tongs. Each of the carriages has a spring bumper 52, these bumpers being designed to engage when the carriages are thrust towards each other.

The shafts 36, besides being rotatable, are

longitudinally slidable through the carriages and the gears 35, as above mentioned. Hence, 7

manipulation thereof is substantially as fol- 1 lows, having reference particularly to Figs. 5 and 6: A cross frame bar 55 is connected to the upper portions 56 of the bars forming the frame 18, and from these thereare short struts 57 at each side and a center strut 58. Each of these sidestruts supportsa nipple 60 and the center strut a nipple 61. In each of these side nipples and the center nipple there is journaled a rock shaft 62, such shafts also having journals 63 in the T construction at the upper end of the posts56. Arm rods 64 are, adjustablyconnected to each of the rock shafts 62, these conforming somewhat Connectedto each ofthe rock shafts between the nipples 60 and 61 there are clamp- 1 ing collars 67 which have rock levers 68 connected thereto. Each of the rock levers has a plunger 69 .slidably mounted in the sole noid mountings 70, each ofthese mountings being swivelly connected to a cross bar 71 connecting the leg frames 19.

Ascable; 72Lliavii1gelectric lead wires there- :in passes upwardly through the figure, prei erably: adjacent one of the leg, frames, and there is a leadto each of the solenoids. E The cable passes downwardly through an opening 78 in the stand and leads through the slot 14,-; 'ilhese wires are sul'iiciently loose to, allowthe figures to topple orer,,a;s here- ;under described, andto follow the motion of Thewiring diagramito operate the sole noids is indicatedJin Fig. 7, inwhich there arewindings 74 for each of the solenoids, there being leads 775 to each of the solenoids, a return lead 76 tron each solenoid conneca ififllo a common return 77. i i 3 li lountedoi'i each ioitthe control wheels there-fare ,a pair ofpushbutton switches 78, each having a commonlead'i't) to a source ioi current supply,and each pushibutton being connected through one of the leads T5 to a- ,solenoid. wit oi 'illitherefore be seen that by pressing, either of the push buttons, the solenoidsmaybe, operated, and when energized 1a'ttract; the armatures, connected to the plungers i 69, gthus actuating either ofuthe roclr-shaftsbQ to swing the arms (i l and deliver a blOlVn -Tl1erefore,loy pressing, one .switclr after the other, the operator may cause his boxer-to deliverv right and left hand-blows in,rapid-succession, or by ophinting only one' switch} he can cause the looxer to deliver blows with one arm only.

[The mechanism for causing the knock-out gg zis substantially as followahaving reference lto-Figs o and 7, with the wiring diagram ,inconnection with Fig. 5: This wiring diagram shows a-sourcegolt' powerhaving a lead 81 therefrom,i On one SlClGOTEtllF; ligure there is what mightbc calleda lower right switch 82,-an upper right hand switch -83, a chinjswitch 8%, an upper left hand switch and a lower left handswitch -There is a lead87 fromone side of the switch Q82wto o'ne sideoof theswitch and another lead 88 froniltherother side ofthe switch 82 to the opposite side of the switch ISMcon-necting into the leadtli}, joining the switches 8 L and85. There is also alead {l0 connecting the; switches 83 and Stand a -leadi9l from one side oi'the switch to one side of the switch 86, and another lead 92 from the other side of the switch 83 to the OPPOSite side .of the switch 86 connectging intoa lead 93, which lead 93 connects to-o-ne end of theasolenoid coil. 44. The A other end ,ofV-th'e solenoid coilis connected .to a lead 94 which leads back to the source yofipower. m Y l a, 3 Theseswitches 82, 83, 84, 85and 86 are of -a type which, when pressed in as by blow, remain in, leading theucircuit through the .lSWltChGS, and these may be reset in any suit- 7 fiableinanneribywan attendant. For distance be mechanically set by an attendant or switches which may be electrically setby the attendant. The switches are arranged in opposite sides of the body and one, on th chin so that at least three blows; on the switches are necessary to energize the solenoid 4.4 and retract ,the detent ll so that the vertical shaft :25 may drop downwardly, hence releasing the stand Jfrom the supporting shaft and in the circuit shown it is necessary that one of these blows be delivered on the chin.

a The circuits and opei'ati we switches may be traced as follows: Presuming a blow, is struck which drives in the switch 82, their the circuit leads from 81 through the/switch 82, leads 88 and 89 to the chinswitch 89 which it is presumed has beeindriven in.

Presuming another blow has been struck on the right hand side driving, in the switcl 83, then the circuit from the SWitcliiS lincolveshthe lead 90, switch 83,1eads Band 93 to the solenoid l l, thus energizing this solenoid; or if switch 83 is open the circuit would be through they-leads 90-and91 to onesidejof the switch 86, and if this switch shouldbe closed by a blow on the left hand side, there will be a connection to thelead 98 and hence to the solenoid 44.

a Presuming that the switch 82 is open and either through the switch 83 being'closed and the leads 92 and 93, or by the switch 86 being closed through the leads 91, switch 86 ,and lead 93. It will thus be seen that the solenoid 44 may be energized/byitwo blows on the sameside closing the switches or by ablow on opposite sides closing either, opposite upper or opposite lower switches. Thisarrangement prevents an operator or player,

,when he thinks that his boxer hashadwonc switch closed,,fromi keeping that side of the boxer to his opponent, as it is immaterial :whether the corresponding switch (on the same side is closed or whether the proper switch on the opposite side 1s closedto complete the circuit to the solenoid 44. 1 i

As above mentioned, when the solenoid 44:

isienergized the shaft 25 immediately drops, allowingctheboxer and, the stand to drop slightly onto1 the platform 13 and the force of the blow which has been struck the boxer is suflicient to topple him over, thus a knockout. a a r a In order to give amusement to the device, a push button 95 is illustrated inithe chest of the boxer and thisis designed to be connected to a Klaxon or othertype of horn or some noise emitting device. It will be readily seen, therefore, h that I haveinvented an amusing device whichreeffecting quires considerableskillin its operation and gives the opposing operators a chance to exercise their skill in what might betermed a competition, as each operator'may advance and draw back his boxer in accordance with the progress of the boxing match and he may shift the boxer angularly either to the right 7 or left in order to avoid or make blows more effective; and canoperate the arms to strike blows in any desired order, repeating blows with the same arm if desired. In addition, it is desirable that the places where the switches are located should be indicated on the body of the boxers sothat the operators will. know where to have their boxers aim their lows.

I Theseboxers if desire'dmay be full size or nearly, full size, and an [attendant may call out thedilferent blows and give points for the mostskillful boxing, so that ifone boxer does not receive a knock-out the attendant acting as umpire can designate which "boxer wins the match. Aftera boxer receives a knock-out it is necessary only for the attendant to pull upwardly on the upper end ofthe vertical shaft v and tollift the boxing figure frame, fitting the socket 17 on' the upper end v 27' of the vertical sha'ft,-with the boxer facing 7 V in'the' desired'direction.

. Variouschanges may be made in the principles of my invention without departing 'fromthe-spirit thereof, as set forth in the description, drawings and claims. I

I claim *1. An amusement device comprlsmg 1n comb natlon a pa r of figures simulating box- I er's, means to move said figures at the willof operators relative to each other, means to operate the arms of such figures to simulate boxing, an electrically controlled sustaining means to hold said figures erect, a plurality of electric switches disposed about the surface'of said figures, and circuits associated with said switches to operate said'electrically controlled means after certain of said switches havebeen actuated by blows there- I upon. Y

2. An amusement device comprising a'pair of figures representing boxers, a pair'of rotatable' and longitudinallyslid able shafts, means operatively connected between each shaft and a figure to shift the figures towards and" from each other on longitudinal -movement of the shaftsand to {rotate each figure on a vertical" axis on the'rotation of each shaft,and means to actuate the arms of each figure.

3. An amusement device, as claimed in 'claim 2, the means toactuate the arms comprising pivotally mounted arm structures on. each figure, electro-magnetic means to actuate each arm of eachfigu're, a pair of electric switches operativelyconnected to'each of-the slidable shafts, and circuits from" said switches tothe electromagnetic devices in the boxer controlled by .the shaft, whereby each operator may control the actuation of the arms of each figure as well as advance and retard and rotate each'figure.

4. An amusement device comprising in combination a pair of vertical shafts, a figure representing a boxer mounted on each of said shafts,'a pair of horizontal shafts slidable and rotatable, means operated by the sliding movement of the horizontal shafts to move the vertical shafts and the figures to andv from'each other. means actuatedby rotating the horizontal shafts to rotate the verti cal shafts and thereby thefigures, means car- 7 ried by the horizontal shafts for moving'the arms of each. figure simulating-boxing, at least one of said figures having aplurality of electricswitches,some of said switches being in a circuit to operate inseries, electro- .magnetic means controlling the position of the vertical shaft for such figure, said switches being'actuated' on receiving blows from the other figure, and a circult assoc1-' ated with said switches for energizing the electro-magnetic means and operating the vertical shaft to allow the figure to fall.

5. An amusement "device 1 comprising in combination a fixed structure, a pair ofmovable carriages associated therewith each having a vertical shaft mounted'therein with a figure demountably supported on each shaft, a horizontal shaft slidably and rotatably movable relative to each carriage, a lazytong connected to each horizontal shaftand to each carriage and the fixed structure,

whereby the longitudinal movement of each shaft operates the lazy-tong connected therewith to shift the carriage, a gear train 'interconnecting the horizontal and the vertical shaft of each carriage torotate the vertical shaft on rotation of the horizontal shaft and thereby rotate the figure, each figure having a pair of pivotallymounted arms, anelectromagnetic device connected to each arm to actuate same, simulating boxing, anda circuit with a switch for eachele'ctro-m'agnetic de-..

vice. V I I 6. An amusement device, as claimed in claim 5, said verticalshafts being vertically slidable to demountthe associated figures therefrom when lowered, each figure having a plurality of electric switches, some of said switches being arranged for linking ina series circuit, an electro-magnetic device sup- V portingly connected to each' vertical shaft, said device being in circuit with the switches and said switches bei'ng'op'erated on receiving blows from" an opposing figure,the energization of the electro-magnetic device allowing dropping of the vertical shaft and detaching of the figuresupported thereby to allow such figure to fall.

7 An amusementdevicecomprising in combination a pair of vertical shafts, each I having a figure representing 'aboxer demountably secured thereon, means to move said shafts toward and from each other and to rotate the shafts thereby moving and rotating the figures, said moving and turning means being independently controlled, independently controlled means to actuate the arms of each of the figures to simulate boxing, and control means carried by one of said figures and adapted to be actuated by receiving a predetermined blow from the other figure to retract the shaft supporting the figure and allow it to fall.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM J. VERONDA. 

